Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 29,466	$ 10,544	$ 67,208	$ 33,347	$ 19,577	$ 58,291
Accounts receivable - net	91,611		80,850
Inventories - net	173,394		157,549
Other current assets	23,145		12,997
Total current assets	317,616		318,604
Other non-current assets	35,867		38,624
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	186,679		186,794
Total other assets	222,546		225,418
Property, plant and equipment - net	254,498		258,154
Total assets	794,660		802,176
Accounts payable	60,767		65,712
Accrued and other current liabilities	94,395		95,535
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	15,146		4,583
Total current liabilities	170,308		165,830
Long-term debt	406,998		461,884
Other long-term liabilities	148,597		149,986
Total liabilities	725,903		777,700
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	68,757		24,476
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	794,660		802,176
Libbey Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable - net	0		0
Inventories - net	0		0
Other current assets	0		0
Total current assets	0		0
Other non-current assets	0		0
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	68,757		24,476
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	68,757		24,476
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	68,757		24,476
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued and other current liabilities	0		0
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	0		0
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	0		0
Total liabilities	0		0
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	68,757		24,476
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	68,757		24,476
Libbey Glass (Issuer) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	6,217	(3,568)	43,558	15,794	(211)	39,249
Accounts receivable - net	38,967		33,987
Inventories - net	60,035		52,627
Other current assets	19,638		17,931
Total current assets	124,857		148,103
Other non-current assets	18,806		22,373
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	372,239		384,414
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	27,423		26,833
Total other assets	418,468		433,620
Property, plant and equipment - net	64,876		72,780
Total assets	608,201		654,503
Accounts payable	12,330		15,339
Accrued and other current liabilities	56,489		63,674
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	231		221
Total current liabilities	69,050		79,234
Long-term debt	404,655		451,090
Other long-term liabilities	91,818		94,434
Total liabilities	565,523		624,758
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	42,678		29,745
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	608,201		654,503
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	52	55	70	154	66	155
Accounts receivable - net	5,551		3,560
Inventories - net	21,295		18,477
Other current assets	2,284		810
Total current assets	29,182		22,917
Other non-current assets	0		54
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	197,806		194,316
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	12,347		12,347
Total other assets	210,153		206,717
Property, plant and equipment - net	288		298
Total assets	239,623		229,932
Accounts payable	2,118		2,854
Accrued and other current liabilities	22,473		20,194
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	24,591		23,048
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	9,432		9,691
Total liabilities	34,023		32,739
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	205,600		197,193
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	239,623		229,932
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	23,197	14,057	23,580	17,399	19,722	18,887
Accounts receivable - net	47,093		43,303
Inventories - net	92,064		86,445
Other current assets	17,630		10,446
Total current assets	179,984		163,774
Other non-current assets	21,251		20,387
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(40,632)		(35,962)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	146,909		147,614
Total other assets	127,528		132,039
Property, plant and equipment - net	189,334		185,076
Total assets	496,846		480,889
Accounts payable	46,319		47,519
Accrued and other current liabilities	28,767		27,857
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	14,915		4,362
Total current liabilities	90,001		79,738
Long-term debt	2,343		10,794
Other long-term liabilities	51,537		50,051
Total liabilities	143,881		140,583
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	352,965		340,306
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	496,846		480,889
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable - net	0		0
Inventories - net	0		0
Other current assets	(16,407)		(16,190)
Total current assets	(16,407)		(16,190)
Other non-current assets	(4,190)		(4,190)
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(598,170)		(567,244)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	(602,360)		(571,434)
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	(618,767)		(587,624)
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued and other current liabilities	(13,334)		(16,190)
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	(13,334)		(16,190)
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	(4,190)		(4,190)
Total liabilities	(17,524)		(20,380)
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	(601,243)		(567,244)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (618,767)		$ (587,624)